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Wedge-shaped ‘Acute House’ shows no space is too awkward for a home

Acute House in Melbourne proves that even a tiny, oddly-shaped site can accommodate a balanced, harmonious residence. Victoria-based Oof! Architecture reused the materials of the original, decrepit, Victorian weatherboard cottage to build a wedge-shaped family home that's loved by the neighborhood as well as its new owners.

The architects wanted to retain the character of the existing Victorian weatherboard cottage and reused as much of the original materials as possible, including warped weatherboards, fence palings, door knobs, vents and street numbers. They carefully removed, labeled and stored these artifacts before re-installing them.

The three-story Acute House occupies the entire 516-square-foot triangular plot, leaving no space for a garden. In order to compensate for this shortage of open space, the architects installed a balcony and full-height sliding doors that open up the main living area. Lawn-green carpets, hanging plants and a centrally positioned aquarium help create a sense of being outside. Due to heritage constraints and site shape, it wasn’t possible to install solar panels on the roof of the house. Instead, in order to make the building more energy-efficient, the team added a gas-boosted solar hot water system, water-efficient toilet and taps, and energy-efficient appliances.